Cigar lighter



May 28, 1935. v. ARoNsoN CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 3, 1927 o o o 29 27 af 5J 47 ,34

INVENTOR. ai: [OIM/15021 mi L A TTORNEYS .Patented `May 28, 1935 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 31927, Serial No. 196,255

31 Claims. (Cl. (iT- 7.1)

The invention relates to cigar lighters or the thumb portion flatwise of the bottom of the caslike and the main object of the invention is to ing and at a position symmetrical on the casing provide a more eilicient and convenient form with respect to the thumb button I4. of lighter than has hitherto been produced. To provide sparks for ignition of fuel carried 5 Further objects of the invention will appear by the wick I5, there is shown an abradant wheel 5 from the following description when read in co-n- 24 journalled about a horizontal axis on top of nection with the accompanying drawing showthe receptacle and mounted on a shaft 25 jouring `an illustrative embodiment of the invention nalledin upstanding ears 26, 21 projecting from.

and wherein: the wall I2. The ears 26, 21 are integral with Fig. l is a side elevation; the sides of the receptacle and extend upwardly 1o Fig. 2 is an edge view with the parts in the from the top thereof. position occupied while the wick is ignited; To cause revolution of the wheel 24, there are Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on line 3--3 provided pinions 28, 29 freely journalled on the of Fig. 4; shaft 25 in mesh with racks 30, 3l carried by the Fig. 4 isa vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, arms 32, 33 of a U-shaped member rigidly sup- 15 Figs. 3 and 4 showing the apparatus in closed ported for sliding movement upon a tubular position; and member 34 projecting and telescoping and slid- Fig. 5 is a plan view. ing into a tubular member 35 passing through the As shown the device comprises a receptacle In top wall i2 and extending into the interior of having a bottom wall II and a top wail I2, the the receptacle. To eject or force said member 34 2o bottom wall being provided witha filling opening forwardly t0 normal POSitOn, there iS ShOWn a I3, shown as closed by means 0f screw plug III, coil Spring 36 housed Within the member 34 and the knurled head of which desirably seats and is seating 1113011 the bottom Wall 31 0f the tubular countersunk in a recess in the thickness of the member 35.

wall II. If desired, as shown, the rack members 32 and 25 To support a wick I5 projecting from the top of 33 may be made integral with each other and the receptacle I0 there is shown a wick tube I6 With the thumb button 43 S0 aS t0 DIOVde a mounted upon the top wall I2, the tube I6 being rugged construction not likely to get out of order. shown as provided with an opening l1 for insel'- It Will be Observed that the thumb button, t0-

tion of a pin into the wick for adjusting the geth-er with the rack members and connected 30 height thereof, portions, are securely held against turning about To provide sparks for ignition of the material the axis 0f the plunger 0r tubular member 34 by with which the wick I5 may'be saturated, there leaSOn Of the engagement 0f the rack members is shown a pyrophoric element I8 projecting with the edges of the ear members 26 and 21.

from a tube I9 passing through the wall l2 and The rack members are further guided and held 35 through the receptacle and opening through the in proper alignment against bending 0r jamming bottom wall l l, The axis 0f the tube lg is curved by reason of the fact that the two rack members in passage through the receptacle as shown in embrace the sides of the guard member 40, which Fig. 3 in order to bring the pyrophoric member in turn closely embraces the sparking wheel.

I8 toward the center of the top of the receptacle The PDOIIS 28, 29 are Shown aS rigidly Secured 40 and beneath an abradant Wheel 24. The ele- 'CO the Side members 38 39 0f e member also ment la may be Spring-pressed outwardly and journalled upon shaft 25 and carrying av shield into engagement with the Whee1 24 by the inor guard 40 for covering the abradant surfaced uenoe of a coil spring 2o embracing o piston 2| Wheel and also carrying a Snuffer 4I, seating in at one end and a, screw p1ug 22 at the other end its closed position, upon wick tube I6 and cover- 45 which screw plug has engagement with the openmg the PTOJ'eCfJiOIl Of the Wickl ing 0f the tube I9 and the knurjed head 23 of For transmitting the motion of the member 38, which seats and is countersunk in a recess in 39, 40, to the abradant wheel 24 in one direction the wan symmetrically with the head I4. The 0f its movement. there is Shown a pan/142 pivoted curvature of the spring tube I9 furthermore perat 43 upfm the member 39 and pressed by mea-ns 50 mits the pyrophoric element I8 to engage the of a spring 44 into engagement with ratchet teeth sparking Wheel in a, direction perpendicular t0 45 Carried by the Wheel 24. Thus the Snuffel 1S a tangent running to the base of the wick and journalled on the same `horizontal axis asA the at the same time the curvature of the tube per- Wheel 24 and the snuffer has thereon gear memmits the thumb screw 23 to be located with its bers 28, 29 meshing with racks 30, 3I on the man- 55 ually pressible member 48 and a ratchet member 45 on the wheells engaged by a pawl 42 carried by the snuffer, so that both the snuiiex' and abradant wheel are actuated by manual pressure.

Ac'over or cap plate 46 is secured to and over the upper wall I2 and beneath the Wheel 24 having openings through which the wick tube I6, the pyrophoric element, tube I9, member 34, and the member 35 extend respectively. The cap plate 46 is shown retained in place as by means of a screw 41. As shown in the drawing, the cap plate 41 has a depending flange extending about the upper edge of the receptacle.

The exterior of the casing I0 may be covered with suitable leather or fabric covering as shown, secured by adhesive or otherwise, and the overhanging flange on the cap plate 46, as well as Athe corresponding flange 'on the bottom plate I I,

serves to protect the edges of such covering material and prevents the same from being peeled off from the metal container.

The device may be operated by the pressure of a finger or thumb upon the head 48 of the sliding member 34, thus manually pushing down the member 34, compressing the spring 36, depressing the racks 30, 3I so as to lift the snuffer 4I and through the medium of the pawl 42 to revolve the wheel 24 and to throw sparks forignition of the fuel carried by the wick. The head portion 48 as integrally formed with the top of the plunger or tubular member 34 and the portions 32 and 33, may be conveniently termed as a thumb or nger piece member. Thus the snuifer and abradant wheel 24 are actuated by manual pressure. The pressure is maintained upon the member 48 While the name is utilized and upon release of the pressure, the snuffer returns to place upon the wick to extinguish the flame.

It will be observed that with the construction above described, a lighter is provided in which the operating thumb piece and the snuffer cover present a generally similar external appearance and are substantially symmetrically located in respect to the top of the lighter, thereby making possible a lighter of not only enhanced appearance but of a shape which may be readily gripped and operated by the user with one hand and yet having no unsymmetrical or protruding operating parts which might interfere with rapid manipulation or make the lighter inconvenient to carry in ones pocket.

It will be further noted that a compact and durable arrangement of the snuifer cap carrying member, the sparking wheel, ratchet, and rack and pinion members is provided. This compact arrangement not only eliminates waste space but enables each of the various parts to contribute to the support, strengthening and guiding of the other parts. The snuiier carryingmember provides not only a guard for the sparking wheel, but a cover largely concealing the ratchet and preventing the same from catching on the clothes of the user. The provision of the double rack and pinion movement makes possible the well balanced and symmetrical appearance and operation of the device and eliminates any tendency for the sparking wheel pivoting means to become unevenly worn at the respective sides ofthe sparking wheel. This is important to insure a smooth and uniform abrasiveaction against the spring pressed pyrophoric member and to prevent binding and jammingof .the sparking wheel or associated parts.

be normally positioned at an elevation approximately on a level with the normal position of the snuiier cap, yet when the thumb button is depressed through the available short distance to the top of the fuel receptacle, the snuier cap is thereby elevated to or beyond a substantially vertical position out of the neighborhood of the flame. Yet the gear ratio is such that the snuffer cap will bermly urged into seating engagement with the wick tube, thus sealing the protruding wick against the escape of fuelvapors.

It will be further observed that the snuiier and the snuffer carrying members, together with the guard 40 and the pinions 28 and 29 may be formed as shown, as a rugged unitary assembly which is substantially complementary to the thumb piece assembly. The symmetrical spacing and appearance of the wick tube and the plunger .34 further enhance the appearance of the mechanism and its Well balanced operation;

Many changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention with the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:-

1. A cigar lighter comprising in combination, a fuel receptacle, a wick tube projecting therefrom, a standard mounted on the receptacle adjacent said wick tube, an abradant surfaced wheel journalled in said standard, means for pressing a pyrophoric element against the surface of said wheel, a snuii'er element freely journalled on the shaft of said wheel for revolution, a pinion carried by said snuffer element, meanslongitudinally slidable in said receptacle and projecting therefrom, a rack member rigidly carried by said sliding means in mesh with said pinion, and a pawl carried by said snuffer element springpyrophoric sparking means for igniting fuel carried by a wick housed in said tube, said means comprising an abradant surfaced wheel journalled on a shaft mounted on said receptacle, a pivoted,

snuier mounted to oseillate about said shaft, a second tube opening from said receptacle, a plunger reciprocating in said last named tube, a nger piece carried by said plunger, pinion teeth carried by said snufier, a rack carried by said finger piece transmitting movement thereof to said snuffer in amplified amount and means to transmit movement of said snuffer to said wheel.

3. A lighter having in combination a fuel receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on said receptacle, a pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, a wick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, a tubular member extending into said fuel receptacle, a tubular operating member fitting and telescoping within said tubular member, a coil spring housed in said tubular members and tending to eject said operating member from the rst tubular member, and means whereby when said operating member is pushed inwardly the wheel is caused to rotate.

4. A lighter having in combination a receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on said receptacle, a pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, a wick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, a snuier for the wick having two side members, one on each side of the wheel, and journalled about the same axis as the wheel, two gears fixed to said side members respectively, a manually pressible member having two racks for operating said gears respectively, and means whereby the wheel is rotated when the snuifer is operated.

5. A lighter having in combination a receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on said receptacle. a. pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, a wick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, a snuier for the wick journalled on the same axis as the wheel, a gear member connected to the snuffer, a rack meshing with said gear member, a manually pressible member for operating said rack, means operatively connecting said wheel and snuier to rotate the wheel 'upon elevation of the snuffel', and a tube extending into said receptacle, said manually pressible member having sliding engagement in saidtube.

6. A lighter having in combination a receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on said receptacle, a pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, a wick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, a snuffer for the wick having two side members, one on each side of Athewheel, and journalled about the same` axis as the wheel, two gears fixed to said side members respectively, a manually pressible member having'two racks for operating said gears respectively, and means whereby .the wheel is rotated when the snu'er is operated, said last mentioned means including a ratchet member rigid with the wheel and a pawl member carried by the snuier and operatively engaging the ratchet member.

7. A lighter having in combination a receptacle having ears integral with the'sides of the receptacle and extending upwardly from the top thereof, an abradant wheel journalled between said ears, a pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, awick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, means for operating the wheel, and a cap plate secured on top of said receptacle beneath the wheel, said cap plate having an opening through which the wick extends and slots through which said ears extend, and said cap plate having a depending flange extending about the upper edge of the receptacle. f

8. A lighter having in combination a receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on top of said receptacle, a pyrophoric member in operative engagement with said wheel, a wick projecting from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, a wick tube secured to the top wall of said receptacle and through which said wick passes, and a cap plate extending over said top wall of the receptacle and beneath said wheel, a tube extending into said receptacle from the top thereof, a member slidable in said tube, and means whereby the wheel is opoperated when said member is manually pressed,

^ said cap plate having an opening through which said last mentioned member passes.

Y 9. A lighter having in combination a fuel re- 1 ceptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on the receptacle, a pyrophoric member in operative enf gagement with the wheel, a wick projecting from theV receptacle adjacent the wheel, a snuier for the wick journalled about the same axis as the wheel, and operatively connected thereto, a gear member fixed to the snuffer, a manually operated reciprocating rack` member which when manually pushed operates said gear and the snuifer and rotates "said wheel, a, tubular member located in l the fuel receptacle, and a coiled spring situated in said tubular member and acting to return the ,Y vmanually operated member after it has been manually operated to actuate the wheel and snuier.

10. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a wick therefor, pyrophoric lighting means adjacent said wick, actuating means for said pyrophoric lighting means comprising a reciprocating finger piece member, an enclosure integral with said fuel receptacle and within which a portion of said nger piece member is received when pressed to operate the lighting means, pairs of cooperating sliding guide portions carried by the receptacle and on said finger piece member for retaining said member against transverse and rotational movements, and cooperating rack and pinion means on said reciprocating member and said lighting meansA respectively to transmit actuating motion from said finger piece to said lighting means.

11. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a. wick therefor, pyrophoric lighting means carried by said fuel receptacle, a reciproeating pressible finger piece member mounted at the side of said lighting means opposite from the wick, rack and pinion means operatively associating said finger piece member and the lighting means, said finger piece member having a cavity and said receptacle carrying a seating portion aligned with said cavity for receiving an elongated spring member for normally maintaining said nger piece in extended position, and a snuffer member operatively associated with the rack means whereby when said finger piece member is pressed said snuffel' member is removed from the wick.

12. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a wick protruding therefrom, pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting mechanism adjacent the wickA on the receptacle, a reciprocating depressible finger piece at the side of said mechanism opposite from the wick, a snuffer cap member pivotally mounted coaxially with said sparking wheel and connected to pinions coaxial with said wheel at each side thereof, said nger piece being provided with a pair of integrally formed yrack members coacting respectively with said pinions, the periphery of the sparking wheel extending therebetween, said fuel receptacle being provided with a cavity, and said nger piece also being integrally formed with a plunger spring barrel entering said cavity when the finger piece is depressed.

13. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a wick and pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting means adjacent thereto on the receptacle, a snuffer cap member pivotally mounted coaxially with said wheel, a ratchet wheel mounted coaxially with the sparking wheel and fixed to rotate therewith, said snuffer cap member comprising in part a guard covering and substantially concealing the sparking and ratchet wheels, a spring pressed pawl mounted within and substantially covered by said snuffer cap member adjacent its wheel guarding portion, and for rotating the wheels when the snuff er cap is elevated, and a spring pressed finger piece member extending to the side of said wheels opposite from the wick, a cavity being formed in a Wall of said receptacle for receiving the lower portion of said finger piece member when depressed, said finger piece member being operatively associated with an adjacent portion of said snuier cap member whereby the snuffer cap is elevated and the sparking wheel is operated upon pressing of said finger piece member.

14. A lighter construction comprising a fuel' receptacle, a wick and pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting mechanism adjacent thereto on the receptacle, a manually pressible reciprocating finger piece member vat the side of said mechanism opposite from the wick, said receptacle carrying a housing telescopically receiving a portion of said finger piece member whenV pressed, mechanism including a pair of racks on said finger piece member and cooperating pinions at each side of the sparking wheel for operatively connecting said viinger piece member and said wheel to rotate the wheel' whenthe finger piece is pressed, and a snuifer cap also operatively associated with said racks whereby the snuer cap is moved to expose the wick to sparks from the sparking wheel upon operation thereof.

15. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a Wick and a pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting mechanism adjacent thereto and carried by the receptacle, a manually pressible reciprocating finger piece member at the side of said mechanism opposite from the wick, a snu'er cap member also carried by the receptacle, rack and pinion means operatively connecting said finger piece member, said lighting mechanism, and said snuffer member, whereby when said finger piece member is manually depressed, the snuier cap member is elevated and the sparking mechanism is operated, the receptacle carrying an enclosure for telescopically receiving the lower portion of said finger piece member when depressed.

16. A lighter construction comprising a receptacle, a wick protruding therefrom, pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting means mounted on said receptacle adjacent said wick, a ratchet wheel affixed to said sparking wheel and having teethprotruding from its periphery, a depressible .finger piece member cn said receptacle at the side of said wheel opposite from said wick, mechanism including a pinion, a reciprocating rack, and pawl means for operatively connecting said iinger piece member and said ratchet wheel to rotate the sparking wheel when the finger piece is depressed, said rack being f oi med on a member slidably carried in a cavity provided in the top wall of said receptacle, and a. snuffer cap member formed with a sparking wheel and ratchet guard normally substantially concealing said wheels, and pivotally mounted coaxially with said pinion on the receptacle to be operated upon depression of said finger piece to expose the wick to sparks from said sparking wheel lighting means.

17. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a wick protruding therefrom, pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting mechanism adjacent the wick on the receptacle,v a. reciprocating finger piece mounted on the receptacle, a snuifer cap member pivotally mounted coaxially with said sparking wheel and having operating members at each side thereof, said finger piece being provided with` a pair of plate-like portions coacting respectively with said snuffer operating members and slidably embracing the snuffer cap i member whereby operation of the finger piece will operate the wheel and snuier by manual pressure, and spring restoring means for said nger piece.

18. In a lighter, a casing, a plunger mounted for reciprocation in a straight line path in said casing, and projecting above the top thereof, a spring acting on said plunger to project it to its .uppermost position, a head on said plunger adapted to be depressed by a iinger of the user against the action of the spring, supporting means projecting from said casing, a shaft pivoted in said supporting means, an abradmg wheel on said shaft, a wick projecting from the top of said casing, a wick snuiiing cap, an operating member pivoted to said shaft carrying said cap, means for operatively connecting said member to the wheel,

and means for operatively connecting the plunger head and the cap carrying member whereby v depression of the plunger head by direct manual pressure exerted thereon rotates the member to uncap the wick and to operate the abrading wheel.

19. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle member, a wick extending upwardly from said member at one side of the top thereof, a. finger piece at the other side of said top depressible into said fuel receptacle member, a rotatable sparking wheel and cooperating pyrophoric means mounted on said top between said wick and nger piece, a sliding rack and pinion means for operating said sparking wheel by depression of said finger piece, and an integrally formed sparking wheel guard and wick snuffer pivotally mounted at said top and operatively associated with said finger piece, whereby depression of the iinger piece also raises said snuffer and`guard to expose the wick to sparks from said wheel.

20. A lighter comprising a relatively thin substantially rectangular fuel receptacle member having a wick, sparking wheel lighting means,

` and a depressible ringer piece arranged in succession along the top thereof, a rack slidably mounted at the top of said receptacle member, ratchet means and a pinion cooperating with said rack to operatively connect said nger piece and sparking wheel means whereby depression of the finger piece operates the sparking wheel, and an integrally formed sparking wheel guard and Wick snuffer member pivotally mounted coaxially with said pinion at said top and operatively associated with said nger piece, whereby depression of the nger piece also raises said snufer and guard to expose the wick to sparks from said wheel.

2l. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a wick and pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting means adjacent thereto'on the receptacle, a snuier cap member pivotally mounted on the receptacle, a ratchet wheel mounted coaxially with the sparking wheel and fixed to rotate therewith, said snuffer cap member comprising in part a guard covering and substantially concealing the sparking and ratchet wheels, a. spring pressed pawl mounted within and substantially covered by said snuffer cap member adjacent its wheel guarding portion, and for rotating the wheel when the snuffer cap is elevated, a finger piece member, means on said receptacle on the side of said wheel remote from said wick mounting said iinger piece for downward movement thereon, a coiled spring within said nger-pece tending to force the same upwardly, and means whereby upon pressing said finger piece downwardly, said snuier is elevated from said wick .and said wheel is rotated by manual pressure to ignite the wick.

22. A lighter construction comprising a receptacle, a wick protruding therefrom, pyrophoric sparking wheel lighting means mounted on said receptacle adjacent said wick, a ratchet wheel axed to said sparking wheel, adepressible iinger piece portion on said receptacle at the side of said wheel opposite from said wick, mechanism including pinion means, a reciprocating rack, and pawl means for operatively connecting said finger piece portion and said ratchet wheel to rotate the sparking wheel when the finger piece is depressed, said rack being formed on a member slidably carried within the top ofsaid receptacle, a snuffer cap carried by a sparking wheel and ratchet guard, said guard being pivotally mounted on the receptacle to be operated upon depres sion of said finger piece to expose the wik to sparks from said sparking wheel lighting means. and a spring member carried within a cavity in said receptacle and acting against said slidable member to resist depression of the finger-piece and to react upon said mechanism to hold the snuifer cap and guard yieldingly in closed position.

23. A lighter having in combination a receptacle, an abradant wheel journalled on top of said receptacle, a pyrophoric member, resilient means projecting said pyrophoric member into from a stop whereby said spring upon release exf erts its full force to press said snuffer about said wick and said means comprising a rack upon the finger piece, a gear member operated thereby and a ratchet.

24. Pocket lighter comprising an extinguishing cap, a shaft therefor, an abradant wheel on said shaft, in juxtaposition to said cap, a wick normallycovered by said cap, a spring controlled plunger, means controlled by said plunger`for raising s'aid cap to uncover the wick, means including said wheel for igniting said wick and adapted to be operated simultaneously with the operation of said cap to uncover the wick, said spring actuated plunger automatically returning the cap into its flame extinguishing position upon its release. f

25. A pocket lighter of the class described comprising a casing, a stationary member thereon having an opening in its top, a movable member telescoping endwise into said stationary member, va means for normally holding said movable member in extended position from said stationary member, a wick, an extinguisher cover therefor, a

shaft for said cover, means for rotating said cover to elevate the same and uncover the wick upon applying pressure on said movable member, an abradant wheel and flint to ignite the uncovered wick and adapted to operate upon the uncovering of said wick, said means for normally holding .the movable member extended adapted to automatically return the partsinto their normal position with the wick covered to extinguish the flame upon the release of said movable member.

26. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, pyrophoric lighting mechanism and a wick mounted on top of said receptacle, a pivoted snuffer member mounted on said receptacle, a finger piece mounted on said receptacle in a position spaced substantially from said wick, separate means extending from opposite sides respectively of said snuffer member to the finger piece for providing dual means operatively interconnecting the snuffer member and finger piece, and means for operating said lighting mechanism upon rotating said snuifer member to a raised position.

27, A Alighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, pyrophoric lighting means mounted at the mid portion of the top of said receptacle,

a wick at one side of said lighting means, a reciprocating finger piece member mounted at the other side of said lighting means at the-top of the receptacle, means operatively connecting said finger piece and said lighting means to transmit actuating motion from said finger piece to said lighting means, means fixed to a wall of said fuel receptacle for slidably enclosing and guiding a `portion of said finger piece member when the same is pressed to operate the lighting means, a snuifer normally in sealing relationship with the wick, snuifer carrying means operative for moving the snuffer to expose the wick upon actuationV the top of said receptacle and at one side of said lighting means, a hollow depressible finger piece at the other side of said lighting means and located at the top of said receptacle, a spring within said finger piece tending to force the same upwardly, a wick snuifer member pivotally mounted between said lugs and normally substantially embracing and covering said lighting means, a pawl and ratchet connection interconnecting said lighting means and snuier member whereby when the snuifer member is elevated to expose the wick, said lighting means is simultaneously operated, and interengaging means carried by said finger piece and snuffer member respectively whereby upon depression of said finger piece the snuifer member is elevated and the lighting means is operated.

29. A lighter construction comprising a fuel receptacle, a pair of spaced parallel plate-like lugs upstanding from the tcp of said receptacle at the mid portion thereof, a horizontal shaft mounted in said lugs, pyrophoric lighting means mounted between said lugs and including an abradant Wheel carried by said shaft, a wick at wheel remote from said wick mounting said finger i piece for downward movement, a Wick snuifer member pivotally mounted between said lugs and normally substantially embracing and covering said lighting means, a pawl and ratchet connection interconnecting said lighting means and snuffer member whereby, when the snuffer member is elevated to expose the wick, said lighting means is simultaneously operated, a spring within said finger piece tending to force the same upwardly, and interengaging means carried by said finger piece and snuffer member respectively whereby the snuffer member is normally retained in a closed position by the force of said spring.

30. A pyrophoric lighter including a fuel 4receptacle, a pair of spaced ears extending upwardly from an intermediate portion of the top of said receptacle, a sparking wheel mounted between said ears on a substantially horizontal axis, a pyrophoric-member engaging said wheel, a wick protruding through the top of the receptacle on one side of the sparking wheel. a downwardly movable iinger piece mounted over the top ot the receptacle on the other side of said wheel, a snuier member also pivoted over the top o! the receptacle in said ears and between said nger piece and wick; means for moving the snuier member upwardly when the nger piece is moved downwardly, a ratchet member turning with the sparking wheel and a pawl member acting between the snuffer member and the ratchet member, whereby the wheel is turned to project sparks onto the wick by the snuier member when the latter is raised to uncover the wick, said finger piece and its mounting being conned to the space which is on its respective side of the sparking wheel and being provided with a restoring spring urging it toward its normal idle position.

31. A pyrophoric lighter including a. receptacle having its side walls free of lighter operating mechanism and adapted to be grasped within the hand of the user, and a wick, sparking wheel and nnger piece mounted in a row on the top of the receptacle, the sparking wheel being located between the wick and iinger piece and mounted on a horizontal axis between ears extending upwardly from the top of the receptacle. a snufrer member also pivoted on a horizontal axis aboveu the top of the receptacle, which axis is between the finger piece and the wick, said snuier member having top and side walls partially enclosing the sparking wheel and a cap adapted to enclose the wick, the linger piece being mounted to move downwardly and upwardly. a restoring spring pressing the nger piece in an upward direction, a pawl and ratchet connection acting between the snuier and the sparking wheel, said sparking wheel being free of operating-connection except through themedium of the snuier and said pawl and ratchet connection, means whereby 15 upon the downward movement of the iinger piece said snuier member is turned-angularly with respect to the wick and finger piece to lift its cap from around the wick, the said snuier mem-ber having a portion adapted to be engaged by a part on the nger piece to hold the snuffel in snuing position under the action of said restoring spring.

LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

